Now I’m laughing. “I can’t believe that’s still my contact name.”
Maddox pulls me in as close as he can. “Only because I’m waiting for the day that I get to change it to ‘Wife.’”
His words warm my heart. And I know it’s not my never-ending heartburn. “Let’s have a baby first. And maybe name it. Then we can talk about that.”
He kisses the spot where eventually a wedding band will rest. “Deal.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say to Shelby as I wince a little bit at the slight contraction—emphasis on slight—I just had. This one was not as slight than others I’ve had, so much so that it caused me to hold onto my bathroom vanity to get through it. “He’s very active today.”
“You look like you’re in a shit ton of pain. Chalk this up to reason number two-hundred-and-twelve why I will never have a child.”
“We’re only at two-twelve?” I ask, breathing through the last of the pains. There. Better.
“It’s probably more, but I’ve lost count. Now get your ass to bed.”
“I’m washing my face.”
“You can go one night without washing your face Gabi. I promise you’re not going to get wrinkles from one night of neglect.”
“I’m almost done. And I’m fine.” I am. I’m fine. Everything is fine. I can still wash my face. I can still take five minutes out of my day to feel human. Plus, this is serving a secondary purpose. In my mind, if the contractions are close enough that I have two in the time it takes me to wash my face and put on mymoisturizer and eye cream, then it’s probably time to go to the hospital. “See. I’m done.”
“Good, now lay back down so your baby daddy can quit texting me asking why you haven’t answered him.”
I smile as I waddle—yes waddle—my way back to the California king-size bed in my master suite.“He’s just worried.”
“I hope there’s a play call called ‘Blue Baby 88’ or some shit like that tomorrow, because I’m pretty sure that’s the only thing he’s going to respond to,” Shelby says as she rolls out of the bed. “You okay if I use the bathroom?”
“Yes of course,” I say as I do my best to get comfortable. “Despite what you and Maddox think, I can be alone for a few minutes at a time.”
“I don’t know about that. I left you alone in Vegas and you ended up pregnant.”
I want to argue with her, but I can’t. She’s right. So I do the only thing I can think of and throw my pillow at her.
“Go.”
She laughs at me as she closes the door to the en suite before I turn on the television and take my phone off the bedside table.
Gabi
Were you bugging Shelby?
Maddox
Yes. You missed your check-in.
I was in the bathroom.
And…
Maddox…
Gabrielle…
I love you. I’m fine. Nothing different from what I told you last hour. I was washing my face.
Shelby says you’re in pain. Are you in pain?
